Hawaii

The largest of the Hawai’ian Islands is Hawai’i, or more commonly called the Big Island. Located over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the nearest continental land mass, the Hawaiian Archipelago is the most geographically isolated group of islands on Earth. The Big Island contains the most southern point in the USA at South Point, as well as volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and dry steppes. The main tourist areas are the town of Kona and the Kohala Coast. The beautiful town of Hilo is situated on the wetter east side of the island. Along the north shore of the island are the towering sea cliffs of the Hamakua Coast, which includes the Waipio and Pololu Valleys. The Big Island’s most famous natural attraction is Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park which offers volcano activity, rainforests, hiking trails and spectacular scenery.

The Big Island is 93 miles (150 km) across and has a land area representing 62% of the total land area of the Hawai’ian Islands. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano that is 13,796 ft (4,205 m) tall and one of five volcanoes which together form the island of Hawai’i. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world when measured from base to summit, since its base is located on the seafloor about 19,000 ft (5,800 m) beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, bringing its total height to about 33,000 ft (10,000 m).

Photographing a Hawai’ian sunset is every photographers dream. Some of the best locations to photograph the Big Island include Kua Bay, the Place of Refuge, Green Sand Beach, Lapahoehoe Point, the Waipio Valley, Hakalau National Forest, the Pu’u Oo Vent, and any time there is an active lava ocean entry at night in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.